Stepping back, he studied it.
“Well, what do you think?” he asked.
“It . . . I . . . why did you buy me that?” When was the last time anyone had bought her anything? She couldn’t even remember.
“It’s your reward for being such a brave girl at the dentist.”
“But I wasn’t really,” she said reluctantly. She really wanted her present. But it wouldn’t be right to accept it, would it?
“Of course you deserve it,” he told her. “You deserve the world.”
Except she knew that wasn’t true. She wasn’t a good person.
“Well? Do you like him?”
Tell him no.
Push him away.
But she couldn’t. How could she do that when he was the first person to buy her a gift in years.
“He’s really cute.”
He beamed at her and her heart raced. Would he ever not have this impact on her? It was like he was sunshine and she was a plant that would wilt without him.
Stupid girl.
Don’t get attached.
“Apparently, if you leave a piece of cheese in his cage at night, by morning it will be gone.”
Uh-huh. If he thought she believed that, then he must think her an idiot.
“I’ll bring you some cheese so you can put it in there each night for him. Might be best to get you a small fridge. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Yeah, I’ll get you a fridge.”
“I don’t need a fridge or cheese,” she said hastily. Although a small fridge would be nice. “What I need is to leave.”
It was the same thing she said to him whenever he asked if she needed something.
And he’d just ignore her like he was doing right then.
Lord. Help. Her.
* * *
Sure enough,by the end of the day she had a small fridge filled with drinks, snacks, and cheese in her room. And Zander ended up putting a piece of cheese in Joseph Herbert’s cage.
Because she wasn’t getting attached.
Not to Zander.
Not to Joseph Herbert.
The next morning, the piece of cheese was gone. But it wasn’t like she didn’t know who had taken it. Sneaky bastard must have snuck in while she was asleep to get the cheese.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
Please don’t let her have been drooling in her sleep.